Surface injection device

Abstract

A needle-free transdermal transport device for non-axially transferring a substance across a surface of a biological body includes a reservoir for holding a substance being transferred. A piston is positioned within the device in communication with the reservoir. An actuator drives the piston to expel the substance from the reservoir. The reservoir is in fluid communication with a nozzle which includes at least one lateral aperture through which the substance is expelled. Multiple lateral apertures can result in a needle-free transfer across a selectable surface area. The depth and direction of an injection can be controlled by the parameters of the nozzle. By providing a selective depth and direction, it is possible to inject a substance into a targeted biological layer, such as a cleavage plane to further promote coverage. A control source can be used to activate the device. The device can also include an optional power source.

1 . A needle-free transdermal transport device for transferring a substance across a surface of a biological body comprising: 
 a reservoir for storing the substance;    a nozzle in fluid communication with the reservoir and adapted to be pressed against and depress without piercing, the surface of the biological body;    a laterally directed aperture in the nozzle; and    an actuator in communication with the reservoir that generates a pressure within the reservoir when activated, that injects the substance laterally through the aperture into the biological body by piercing the surface of the biological body.    
   
   
       2 . The transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle comprises a plurality of lateral apertures.  
   
   
       3 . The transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is controllable during an actuation to vary the pressure.  
   
   
       4 . The transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle, is adapted to produce a shallow injection with respect to surface, when the axis of the nozzle is perpendicularly aligned with a surface of the body.  
   
   
       5 . The transport device of  claim 1 , further comprising a retractable shroud in communication with the nozzle.  
   
   
       6 . The transport device of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle comprises a tube with a closed end and having apertures through the side of the tube.  
   
   
       7 . The transport device of  claim 6 , wherein the tube is closed with a plug having an inner surface that directs flow to the apertures.  
   
   
       8 . A method for transdermally transferring a substance across a surface of a body comprising the steps of: 
 pressing a nozzle in fluid communication with a reservoir, against the surface of the body and depressing without piercing, the surface of the body;    activating an actuator in communication with the reservoir to generate a pressure within the reservoir; and    injecting the substance through a laterally directed aperture in the nozzle to induce lateral, needle-free injection of the substance.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein injecting the substance to the body first comprises injecting the substance through a plurality of lateral apertures disposed in the nozzle.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein injecting the substance further comprises injecting the substance into a single layer under the surface of the body.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein injecting the substance further comprises injecting the substance into a plane defined between different layers of the surface of the body.  
   
   
       12 . A method of manufacturing a nozzle adapted to transfer a substance non-axially to a surface of a body comprising: 
 providing an elongated member defining a central lumen;    positioning one end of the elongated member such that it is in close proximity with an Electro Spark Discharge (ESD) wire; and    energizing the ESD wire to vaporize the end of the elongated member, thereby forming a non-axial aperture, adapted to transfer the substance to the surface of the biological body.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein energizing further comprises vaporizing using a linear ESD wire, adapted to form an elliptical aperture on the elongated member.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising controlling the alignment of the ESD wire and the elongated member such that a preferred orientation of a major axis of the elliptical aperture can be obtained.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising repeatedly vaporizing different portions of the end of the elongated member with an ESD to form an array of apertures between an exterior of the elongated member and the central lumen.  
   
   
       16 . A needle-free transdermal transport device for transferring a substance across a surface of a biological body comprising: 
 means for activating an actuator in communication with a reservoir to generate a pressure within the reservoir; and    means for injecting the substance through a laterally directed aperture in the nozzle to induce lateral, needle-free injection of the substance.